China shuts down Beijing independent film festival

The Associated Press

Posted:
08/23/2014 01:42:55 AM EDT

BEIJING (AP) — Organizers say Chinese authorities have shut down an independent film festival, a rare venue for the showing of independent films that may be critical of the government in a country with tight controls.

Wang Hongwei of Li Xianting Film Fund, which has organized the 11th Beijing Independent Film Festival, said Saturday that the festival was forced to close on its opening day.

Film critic Li Xianting has posted comments in social media over the last week that state security personnel have been pressuring him to cancel the festival and that he has come under police surveillance. Wang has verified the authenticity of Li's posts but declined to speak further.

Police in Songzhuang, where the event was supposed to open, say they are unaware of it.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of Nashoba Publishing. So keep it civil.